How to get to Hua Hin from Bangkok

The distance between Bangkok and Hua Hin is 200 km. To get there, consider taking a bus, a van, a taxi or a train. If travelling by road, travel time is from 4 to 5 hours and depends on traffic which can be quite tough along the route. Buses depart mainly from the Southern Bus Terminal and Ekkamai, with bus fare around THB200-THB300 plus there is a direct transfer from Suvarnabhumi airport to Hua Hin (THB340). Vans cost almost the same as big buses but can be slightly faster. Taxi rates start from THB2,000 and worth considering you are a group big enough to order a private van for up to 9 passengers (THB3,000). Consider taking a train to Hua Hin if you stay close to the city centre. They leave from Hua Lamphong train station in Bangkok and take 4 hours to reach Hua Hin with 2 class seats costing from THB200 – expect to pay more for a sleeper and much less for a 3 class hard seat.

Being the first official Thai sea resort, Hua Hin has good transport connections with the capital. Trains, buses and vans ply the route between Bangkok and Hua Hin daily. If you are considering taking a bus, note that road traffic can be really bad – especially on Friday evening and Saturday morning from Bangkok to Hua Hin, when people are escaping to the sea for a weekend, and on Sunday evening – from Hua Hin to Bangkok, when all the Bangkokians are heading back home. Arrange accordingly.

Note that you can get to Hua Hin directly from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. Bell Travel operates VIP24 buses which go from the airport to Hua Hin. There are seven buses a day, every two hours from 7.30am with the last one departing at 7.30pm. They leave from the Gate 8 on Level 1 and take about four hours to arrive to Hua Hin bus station between Soi 96 and 98 Phetkasem Road.

From Bangkok to Hua Hin by bus

There are both big buses and minivans heading to Hua Hin from different locations in Bangkok all day through. Big buses depart from Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok, Sai Mai Tai. They are a sure bet, but can be incredibly slow. Be ready to spend at least five hours on board.

The easiest, quickest and cheapest way to get to Hua Hin is by minivan. 12go.asia recommends Malee Travel vans which depart from the southern side of Victory Monument in Bangkok. You can easily get to Victory Monument by BTS and then follow Phayathai Rd towards the Monument. Malee van station is to your right, just behind the bus stop.

Tip: Taking a minivan is not a good idea if you travel with a lot of luggage. Consider other options to get to Hua Hin from Bangkok instead.

From Bangkok to Hua Hin by train

Hua Hin sits on the Sourthern Line of Thai railway. Normally trains in Thailand offer a slower alternative to buses, but in case with Hua Hin it is a good idea to travel by train because Route 4 from Samut Prakan to Hua Hin is notorious for its traffic gems, and you can easily spend up to five or six hours travelling by car or by bus, while a train brings you to Hua Hin from the centre of Bangkok in four hours for sure. Another great thing about travelling to Hua Hin by train is the train station in the resort city. Even among other picture-perfect train stations in Thailand it does stand out. Arriving to this gingerbread-like train station is a pure delight – at least for us! – which guarantees you a good mood during your whole stay in Hua Hin.

Any Suratthani-bound train passes through Hua Hin, but many of them sell out quickly for the longer journeys, so as a rule you have rather a limited choice of trains on offer. These include a morning #43 train which leaves Hua Lamphong train station in Bangkok at 8.05 and arrives to Hua Hin before noon at 11.29am. It offers second-class AC seats only at around THB650, but they are completely ok for this brief journey. There is also an afternoon #35 train leaving at 2.45pm and arriving at 8.45pm which is also a convenient option to get to Hua Hin from Bangkok. It has second-class AC sleepers at a bit higher price (approx. THB 670) and can also be considered, as by day berths are normally folded out into seats.

From Bangkok to Hua Hin by taxi

PGS Charter operates chartered taxis and vans to Hua Hin any time of the day by your request. They pick you up at your hotel or other location on your choice in Bangkok and bring directly to your destination in Hua Hin. They offer Toyota Camry for 3 pax at THB3080 and Toyota Commuter for 9 pax at THB3300, which is obviously a better investment if you have other fellow travellers to share expenses.

Why go to Hua Hin?

Though Hua Hin has a high status of a royal sea resort, sea is definitely not the most impressive thing about the city. Its wide beaches with shallow waters, though, cater well for families with children, and an abundance of family-oriented attractions, including Vana Hava Hua Hin and Black Mountain waterparks and Santorini Theme Park in Cha-Am, is a great plus for travellers with the little ones. But if you are an adventurous type, you will not be disappointed, either. There are a couple of worth-visiting national parks in the vicinity, a colourful Art Village and a busy night market; there are beautiful palaces and old teak houses which have been spared by the rapid growth of the city, tasty and cheap seafood restaurants and that subtle air of the beginning of the last century with its characteristic old-school charm which makes you forget about seedy bars and clogged streets, tourist traps and inflated prices. All in all, it is a destination not to be skipped off.

Further afield from Hua Hin

While in Hua Hin, why not jump at the opportunity and not explore Hua Hin’s less known neighbours? Located on the same coastline, they offer totally different experience.

Quiet charm of a provincial capital: Prachuap Khiri Khan

Prachuap Khiri Khan is an absolutely delightful destination. This quiet provincial capital oozes tons of charm. It boasts almost circle bays which you can admire from a couple of view points in the surrounding hills, unusual shell temples, a colourful weekend market, incredible sunrises over the Gulf and one of the most beautiful city pillars in the whole country. You can get to Prachuap from Hua Hin – it is only 96 km to the south – or by a direct train from Bangkok – and to our mind, the train station in Prachuap Khiri Khan, though smaller, does not have much to envy to the one in Hua Hin!

A quiet harbour: Pranburi

Quiet and laidback vibe reigns in Pranburi. Shallow waters kiss its skinny white sand beaches; loud music from nightclubs does not disturb tropic evenings. Sounds like a plain sleepy town, is it not? Well, to some extend it is, but it is exactly this atmosphere of a secret, peaceful place that attracts those who are seeking complete relaxation in tranquil setting to Pranburi. Walk through a mangrove forest in Pranburi Forest Park, watch bottlenose dolphins playing in Dolphin Bay from February to May, go kayaking or just soak in the serenity of a new Thai Riviera.

To come to Pranburi from Bangkok, use PSG Charter. They offer Toyota Camry for three pax at THB3960 or Toyota Commuter for 9 pax at THB4180. The rates are all-inclusive (pick-up and drop-off at chosen locations, tolls and luggage); the journey lasts from three to four hours.

Getting around

Hua Hin is flat which makes bicycles a convenient option for moving around the town. Note though that traffic is rather heavy in Hua Hin, especially in Phetkasem Road, so think twice before you venture out on your two-wheel horse.

Scooters and motorcycles are easily available for rent at around THB300 per day. If you are not an experienced driver, it may prove a better idea to use public transport instead, as trafic in Hua Hin, as in almost any Thai resort city, tends to be chaotic.

Songthaws are white and green pickup trucks which ride a set route in the central part of the city and outside it. Depending on the distance you ride, the trip will cost you from THB10 to THB40. The most useful route starts from the train station and goes as far as Wat Huay Mongkon and the floating market.

Four- and three-wheel tuk-tuks are readily available around the city. Always negotiate the cost of your ride before the trip. Though not so shameless as their Phuket counterparts, Hua Hin’s tuk-tuk drivers are not a Western tourist’s best friends as far as the price is concerned: be ready to pay no less than THB100 even for the shortest of rides.

Not to Miss: A Real Thai-Style Breakfast in Hua Hin

Jek Pia, a coffee shop with more than five decades of experience located at the corner of Soi Naeb Kehart and Dechanuchit, is arguably the best place in the town to have a real Thai-style breakfast. Order any kind of joke – rice porridge – from a long list (THB30-THB80) and enjoy your morning. Open daily from 6.30am till 1.20pm and from 5.30pm till 7.30pm.

Passenger reviews out of total 9,765 passengers who traveled with us on this route.

At 12Go our operators offer three types of service:

Cheap, Fast, Good - but you can usually pick only two of them!Cheap & Fast won’t be Good. (e.g. buses from/to Khao San Road, local buses or 3rd class trains)Cheap & Good won’t be Fast. (e.g. VIP trains in Thailand)Fast & Good won’t be Cheap. (e.g. private limousine services, or VIP24 buses vs Express buses)

Make your choice! Please remember that while we are closely monitoring the services, we are still an agency marketplace. That means we focus on ticketing services and route availability & coverage rather than on the factual seat reclining angle you will get on the bus today.

ZhannaNov 19, 2018

van Regional, Nor Neane Transport

★★★☆☆

sorry we were not able to get a one person refund as one person didn't make it. however, they took the ticket and sold the seat to others as the van was full; but did not refund us

WingNov 18, 2018

bus VIP 24, Sombat Tour

★★★★★

It was great!
But I don’t see why they ask me there one hour before
I think 15 mins is enough
Because we started around 15 mins late

FriedrichNov 18, 2018

train #171 Class II Fan, Thai Railways

★★★★★

Good Price Performance Ratio

JeffreyNov 18, 2018

van Regional, Nor Neane Transport

★★★★☆

all fine, on time,

PhyllisNov 17, 2018

van Regional, Win Poo Yai Piak

★★★☆☆

When I got to the bus station nobody could tell me where to get the van that I booked on line. They sent me to the the ticket office to buy a ticket. When that was resolved my van was overbooked. So I had to get in a different van. Then I had to get someone to shout to the driver that I needed a bathroom break while frantically repeating pee and pointing to my vagina. More importantly got there safely and dry.

NurNov 14, 2018

van Regional, Nor Neane Transport

★★★★☆

Convenient and fast. We depart early since everyone are ready and safely arrived at our guesthouse.

Blanket provided for cold air conditioning. Smooth travel from Bangkok to Hua Hin. Complimentary water. Comfortable seating. My only complaint is the itinerary says "Hua Hin Bus Station", however Google maps shows about 3 stations called that - the Itinerary should show the full name and address of the station as it was confusing for people picking me up.

LindaNov 9, 2018

train #171 Class II Fan, Thai Railways

★★★★☆

I was dreading journey as no ac seats left but it was great with fan & window open & wonderful scenery parts of the way and the toilets were quite clean & had paper. Downside no Cha - they laughed when I asked ! Maybe it’s hop off at a station to grab one as you can do in India. 4 hour journey was an hour late. 12go.asia offer great service - this is first of 5 train journeys so feel encouraged. Ticket pickup worked well at Bangkok & great service with follow up messages & to give free bottle of water.

MardiyahNov 7, 2018

van Regional, Nor Neane Transport

★★★★★

easy to go to the meet point as it next to bts ekkamai. really fast drive

RichardNov 7, 2018

train #171 Class II Fan, Thai Railways

★★★★★

Hassle free, booked online, picked up ticket from the office and boarded the train.

NicholasNov 7, 2018

charter Economy, BangkokTaxi24

★★★★★

Good work. Driver was a little late but made it up on the run down.

JohannaNov 5, 2018

bus VIP 24, Sombat Tour

★★★★☆

Nice bus, arrived on time. Our first time, where to go out was confusing. The bus stopped several times in Hua Hin.

MichalNov 5, 2018

bus VIP 24, Sombat Tour

★★★★★

Very spacious, lots of leg room and quick trip

VedanaNov 4, 2018

train #171 Class II Fan, Thai Railways

★★★★★

Very good service

PaulNov 4, 2018

charter Economy, BangkokTaxi24

★★★★★

Our driver arrived early to pick us up in Bangkok. We arrived at our destination ahead of schedule which was nice. The driver also stopped for gas on the way and gave us an opportunity to use the washroom.
We are very happy with the service provided.

EmmanuelNov 3, 2018

van Regional, JKP Mochit

★★★★★

Even if i booked for a trip at 10 am, we went early and could have a minivan as soon as we arrived ! i bought an extra seat for our luggage (as it was said in the notice). Good air con (maybe too cold !), driver drove fast but safely, enough room for legs. Good trip !

NealNov 2, 2018

van Regional, JKP Mochit

★★★★★

Bus left on time and arrived early.
Driver very courteous and minivan comfortable

NorOct 30, 2018

van Regional, JKP Mochit

★★★★★

Very efficient

NguyenOct 27, 2018

train #171 Class II Fan, Thai Railways

★★★★☆

The train was come Huahin 1.5 hours later than the time printed in the ticket

EricOct 26, 2018

charter Comfort, Hua Hin Cars

★★★★☆

Driver was very prompt, polite, and kind. Her driving was decent. A little erratic, but got me where I needed to be.

AmandaOct 25, 2018

bus VIP 24, Sombat Tour

★★★★☆

We had no trouble getting to the bus station. We used the MRT and a taxi. Getting the ticket was no trouble and the bus was very comfortable. The only issue we had was that the booking confirmation indicated the trip would take five hours, whereas, in fact, it only took three hours which confused us somewhat and meant we turned up at our accommodation early to find the hosts were out to lunch! It would just have been good to have known the correct arrival time.

MargretOct 24, 2018

train #171 Class II Fan, Thai Railways

★★★☆☆

12gi should have an office in the train station it is just such hazzle to pick up your ticket, if